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LINCOLN  ROOM 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


ADDRESS 


ON    THE 


DEATH 


OP 


President  Lincolk 


JOHN  FOWLER,  Jr., 

NETV-ROCHELLE,    ^P»RI3Li    SOth,    1865. 


An  Address 


DEi^TH 


OF 


President  Lincoln, 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE 


CITIZENS  OF  NEW-PtOCHELLE,  WESTCHESTER  CO.,  X.  Y., 


JOHN    FOWLEE,    Jr., 


THURSDAY  EV'G,  APRIL  20,   1865, 


3xn  tl)c   ©ItJ  Hjpisco|)al  ffi^urcl),  ^Mcto^a^octcllc. 


KEW-YORK: 
JOUN    A.  GRAr  &  GREEX,  PRINTERS,  COR.  FRANKFORT   AND   JACOB   STREETS. 

1865. 


s 


"  WITH  MALICE  TOWARD  NONE.-WITH  CHARITY  FOR  ALL,-WITH  FIRMNESS 
IN  THE  RIGHT,-AS  GOD  GIVES  US  TO  SEE  THE  RIGHT -LET  VS  STRIVE  ON  TO 
FINISH  THE  WORK  WE  ARE  IN,-TO  BIND  UP  THE  NATION'S  WOUNDS,-TO  CARE 
FOR  HIM  WHO  SHALL  HAVE  BORNE  THE  BATTLE,  AND  FOR  HIS  WIDOW  AND 
ORPHAXS,-TO  DO  ALL  WHICH  MAY  ACHIEVE  AND  CHERISH  A  JTJST  AND  LAST- 
ING  PEACE  AMONG   OURSELVES  AND  WITH  ALL  NATIONS." 

PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS, 

MiKCH  4,  IsM. 


^:s- 


1022912 


New-Rochelle,    Westchester   Co., 

April   21,   1S65. 

Dear  Sir: 

The  undersigned^  a  Committee^  appointed  for  the  purpose 
hy  their  fellow-citizens  who  had  tlie  pleasure  of  listening  to 
your  eloquent^  judicious,  and  patriotic  Address  last  evening, 
have  the  honor  to  reqiiest  that  you  will  favor  us  with  the 
manuscript  for  publication. 

Very  respectfully,  yours. 


RICHARD   LATHERS, 
JAMES  C.  LUCE, 
JOSEPH   W.  HARPER,  Jr., 
P.  C.  BULKLEY, 
ROB'T  A.  CHESEBROUGH, 


Committee 

ON 

Publication. 


JOHN    FOWLER,  Jr.,  Esq,, 

New-Rochelle. 


NEW-ROCHELLE,  April   22,  1865. 

Gentlemen : 

I   have  the   honor   to  acknowledge    the   receipt   of  your 

favor  of  tiventy-first  Inst.     In  compliance  with  your  reciuest^ 

the    manuscript^  to   -ushlch  you  so  kindly  allude,  is   hereivith 

transmitted. 

Very  respectfully^ 

Jour  obedient  seroant, 

JOHN   FOWLER,   Jr. 
To 

RICHARD    LATHERS, 

JAMES    C.   LUCE, 

P.  C.  BULKLEV, 

JOSEPH    W.  HARPER,   Jr., 

ROBERT   A.   CHESEBROUGH,   Esc^uires, 

Committee   on    Publication. 


NOTE 


At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Xew-Rocbelle,  held  pursuant  to 
public  notice,  in  the  Town  Hall,  Monday  evening,  April  17th,  1865,  it  was,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Robert  A.  Cuksebrocgii,  unanimously  resolved  : 

"  That,  John  Fowler,  Jr.,  be  respectfully  requested  to  deliver  an  Address  on 
the  Death  of  President  Lincoln,  on  Thursday  evening,  April  20th,  before  the 
Citizens  of  New-Rochelle,  in  the  old  Episcopal  Church  Building." 

The  Address  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Fowler,  at  the  time  and  place  indicated  in 
the  Resolution ;  but  as  many  persons  were,  by  reason  of  a  violent  storm,  pre- 
vented from  attending,  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  in  accordance  with  the 
general  desire,  requested  a  repetition  of  the  Address,  in  the  same  place,  Monday 
evening,  April  24th,  At  this  time,  as  on  the  evening  of  April  20th,  Mr.  Richard 
Lathers  presided.  The  platform  was  occupied  by  the  entire  clergy  of  the  village, 
namely,  the  Rev.  Richard  U.  Morgan,  D.D.,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  ;  the 
Rev.  John  Milet,  D.D.,  Pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  the  Rev. 
Thomas  McLoughlin,  Pastor  of  St.  Matthew's  Church  ;  the  Rev.  Erskine  N. 
White,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Rev.  Otis  Saxton,  Pastor  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 

The  attendance  was  numerous,  every  seat  in  the  spacious  building  being  occu- 
pied. Mr.  Lathers  addressed  the  audience  in  fitting  terms,  alluding  in  a  feeling 
manner  to  the  terrible  calamity  that  had  befallen  the  Country,  and  urging  the 
cultivation  of  kindly  feelings  at  a  time  when  every  citizen  should  give  the  Ad- 
ministration a  fair  trial  and  generous  support. 

Mr.  Fowler's  Address  was  preceded  by  a  Prayer  from  the  Rev.  Erskine  N. 
White,  and  followed  by  a  Prayer  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan.  The  Rev.  Thomas 
McLoughlin  addressed  the  assemblage  briefly.  He  spoke  of  the  high  regard  and 
admiration  he  entertained  for  the  lamented  President.  His  earnest  expressions 
of  regret  and  sympathy  deeply  impressed  the  audience.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
Reverend  gentleman's  pathetic  remarks,  a  Vote  of  Thanks  to  Mr.  Fowler  was 
unanimously  adopted,  and  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Richard  Lathers,  James 
C.  Luce,  Joseph  W.  Harper,  Jr.,  P.  C.  Bulkley,  and  Robert  A.  Chesebrough, 
was  appointed  by  the  audience,  to  request  of  Mr.  Fowler  a  copy  of  his  Address 
for  publication  in  pamphlet  form. 

P.   C.   Bulkley, 

Chairman  Committee  of  Arrangements. 
J.   W.   Harper,   Jr.,   Secretary. 

New-Rochelle,  April  25,  18G5. 


ADDRESS. 


« ♦ »- 


Fellotv-Citizein's  : 

We  meet  to-nio-lit  under  circumstances  as  extra- 
ordinary  as  tliey  are  appalling  !  In  tlie  very  hour 
of  victory,  when  all  hearts  were  expected  to  be  aglow 
with  joy  and  pride,  we  meet  to  mingle  our  tears  over 
the  new-made  grave  of  a  murdered  Chief  Magistrate  ! 

Throughout  four  weary  years  we  had  watched  with 
painful  solicitude  the  varying  progress  of  a  malignant 
rebellion,  which,  at  times,  seemed  so  fraught  with  dan- 
ger and  disaster,  as  almost  to  shake  the  stoutest  hearts. 
During  a  large  portion  of  this  time  our  energy,  pa- 
tience, and  treasui'e,  were  severely  taxed.  Our  loyal- 
ty was,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  tested  and  found 
true.  To  all  the  elements  of  national  strength  we  con- 
tributed without  stint.  In  the  full  confidence  that  a 
grand  love  for  the  whole  country  would  prove  the 
paramount  passion  of  the  people,  and,  sooner  or 
later,  rise  superior  to  the  spirit  of  disunion, — we  were 
willing  to  accept  as  a  full  reward  for  all  our  pains, 
the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion  and  the  restoration 
of  the  Union. 


10 

We  saw,  witliout  dismay,  tlie  Xatioiial  Debt  mount- 
ing from  tens  of  millions  to  linnclreds  of  millions. 
No  mind  could  be  so  sordid  as  to  2)ut  a  money  value 
on  the  Union :  the  cause  at  stake  was  priceless. 

Tliousands  uj^on  thousands  of  our  brethren  went 
forth  to  repel  the  public  enemy,  and  meet  death  in  all 
the  horrid  forms  which  the  demon  of  war  conjures  up. 
]\Iany  of  them  sleep  where  they  fell.  Others,  emerg- 
ing from  some  loathsome  prison,  crept  home  and 
thought  it  hajDpiness  enough  to  look  once  more  uj)on 
the  dear  scenes  of  childhood,  and  then  to  hare  their 
mutilated  limbs  and  wasted  forms  laid  decently  to  rest 
by  the  hands  of  affection. 

At  last,  through  the  dark  cloud,  light  seemed  break- 
ing. The  heart  of  the  j^retended  Confederacy  was 
reached.  Hood's  defiant  army  approached  Nashville 
in  the  vain  hope  of  an  easy  victoiy,  but  was  gallantly 
met  by  Thomas  and  scattered  to  the  winds.  Sher- 
man, meanwhile,  marched  triumphantly  through  Geor- 
gia, and,  taking  Savannah  on  his  way,  proceeded  lei- 
surely through  the  Carolinas,  where  our  glorious  ban- 
ners, long  accustomed  to  the  smoke  of  battle,  soon 
mingled  their  gay  colors  with  Orange  Blossoms  and 
Palmetto  Leaves. 

Still,  the  end,  although  certain,  seemed  for  off.  The 
campaign  was  being  conducted  in  the  midst  of  the  en- 
emy's country,  and  might,  at  any  moment,  be  adverse- 
ly determined  by  some  accident  which  neither  skill 
nor  courage  could  avert.  Hope  had  been  so  often  de- 
ferred, that  while  any  great  movement  was  in  progress, 


11 

we  souglit  ratlier  to  steel  our  hearts  against  the  pangs 
of  disapj^ointment,  than  encourage  the  j^romises  of 
success, 

Wilmino-ton  had  fallen,     Charleston  was  ours. 

Grant,  long  silent,  but  always  vigilant,  moved  sud> 
denly  on  the  enemy's  works.  After  several  days  of 
such  terrible  conflict  as  the  world  had  rarely  seen,  the 
foe  beaten,  discomfited,  abandoned  his  strong  lines  in 
utter  dismay,  and  we  beheld  the  old  flag  floating  in 
triumph  over  the  Citadel  of  Treason. 

Then  quickly  followed  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia, 

It  needed  now  no  official  bulletin  to  persuade  us 
that  the  rebellion  was  crushed,  and  the  war  virtuall}^ 
closed, 

A  general  joy  suffused  all  true  American  hearts. 
The  timid  were  assured;  the  wavering  ceased  to 
doubt  ;  they  who  had  opposed  the  war  were  glad  that 
it  was  over ;  they  who  had  favored  a  vigorous  pros- 
ecution of  the  war  as  the  only  legitimate  means  of  es- 
tablishing a  permanent  peace,  were  equally  rejoiced. 

No  Ion  seer  beneath  the  chastenino;  rod  we  lifted  our 
heads  to  behold  with  gratitude  the  bow  of  j^i'omise, 
spanning  what,  to  our  imperfect  vision,  appeared  an 
unclouded  sky. 

A  day  was  set  apart,  Thursday,  April  twentieth,* 

*  Thursday,  April  twentieth,  1865,  had  been  named  by  the  Governor's 
Proclamation  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  and  Praise  for  the  recent  victo- 
ries ;  but  was  changed  on  account  of  the  death  of  the  President  to  a 
day  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer. 


12 

as  a  day  of  Tlianksgiviiig  aud  Praise,  of  Rejoicings 
and  Merry  Meetings,  and  to  hail  witli  universal  joy 
tlie  dawn  of  tliat  auspicious  season  when  the  clasli  of 
arms  sliould  cease, — when  instead  of  "bugle  Llast  and 
trumj^et  blare,  and  screaming  fife  and  deafening  drmn, 
the  robin's  song  and  plougluuan's  whistle  should  be 
heard, — when  through  valleys  trampled  beneath  the 
hoof  of  cavalry,  and  along  hillsides  furrowed  by  artil- 
lery, the  lily  should  spring  up,  and  grass  resume  its 
verdure,  and  tasseled  corn  and  waving  grain  should 
bloom, — when  deserted  firesides  should  smile  once 
more,  and  hearts  long,  too  long  estranged,  be  one 
aQ;ain. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  exj^ectant  joy — while  we 
were  arranging  the  gay  order  of  the  happy  ceremonies 
— at  the  very  moment  when  our  hands  were  raised  to 
strike  the  timbrel  and  the  harp,  the  dreadful,  heart- 
rending, paralyzing  news  came  to  us  that  the  Peesi- 
DENT  of  the  United  States  lay  senseless — dying ^  he- 
neatli  tlie  hJmo  of  an  assassin  !  A  few  moments  later, 
the  fatal  message  arrived  that  the  President  was 
Dead  ! 

Dead  !     Muedeeed  !  ! 

With  full  hearts  and  choking  utterance,  we  turned 
one  to  another,  and  tremulously,  cloubtingly  repeated 
the  awful  words  :  Dead  ?     Muedeeed  ? 

Abeaiiam  Lincoln,  fi'om  whose  calm  eye  naught 
but  benevolence  beamed, — on  whose  benignant  face 
charity  and  good-will  always  sat, — in  whose  generous 
breast  the  gall  of  bitterness  never  found  an  abiding 


13 

place, — ABRAnA:\r  Lixcolx  the  man  of  tlie  people,  tlie 
friend  of  the  people,  the  freely  chosen  Ruler  of  the 
Nation — Dead  ?     Murdeked  ? 

Comj^letely  overcome  by  a  flood  of  conflicting  emo- 
tions, and  utterly  unable  to  fathom  the  depths  of  this 
mysterious  Providence,  we  could  only  turn  our  eyes 
toward  God  and  watch  and  wait  1 

To  some  impetuous  temperaments  there  seemed  no  re- 
lief but  in  instant  and  bloody  vengeance.  Blood  alone 
could  apj^ease  the  fierce  wrath  of  souls  so  suddenly 
stiiTcd  up  to  rage  and  mutiny.  The  murderer  had 
fled  !  He  had  escaped  !  He  had  not  been  caught 
and  torn  asunder  while  in  the  act  of  exultins;  over  his 
stupendous  crime  !  The  popular  fury  spreading  like 
some  dreadful  contagion,  infused  its  rancor  into  many 
hearts  unaccustomed  to  hatred,  until,  for  a  moment, 
it  was  feared  that  the  people  were  about  to  enforce 
the  impassioned  sentiments  of  Antony  : 

"  Woe  to  the  hand  that  shed  this  costly  blood  ! 
Over  thy  wounds  now  do  I  prophesy — 
Which  like  dumb  mouths  do  ope  their  ruby  lips 
To  beg  the  roice  and  utterance  of  my  tongue, 
A  curse  shall  light  upon  the  limbs  of  men  ; 
Domestic  fury,  and  fierce  civil  strife, 
Shall  cumber  all  the  parts  of  Italy ; 
Blood  and  Destruction  shall  so  be  in  use, 
And  dreadful  objects  so  familiar, 
That  mothers  shall  but  smile  when  they  behold 
Their  children  quartered  by  the  hands  of  War  ; 
And  Pity  choked  with  custom  of  fell  deeds, 
And  Ca?sar's  spirit  ranging  for  Revenge 


14 

With  Ate  by  his  side,  come  hot  from  Hell, 
Shall  in  these  confines  with  a  monarch's  voice 
Cry  '  Havoc,'  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war  ; 
That  this  foul  deed  shall  smell  ahove  the  earth 
With  carrion  men  groaning  for  burial  1 " 

r  Terrible  as  tliey  seem,  sucli  were  the  sentiments 
"wliicli  for  a  moment  possessed  tlie  minds  of  many. 
But  tlie  paroxysm  was  too  violent  to  last,  and  wlien 
reaction  came,  the  wiser  counsels  of  moderation  jire- 
vailed.  A  little  calm  reflection  demonstrated,  that 
the  spirit  of  wide-sj)read  revenge  was  not  the  spirit 
in  which  the  Great  Calamity  should  be  met ;  that 
over  the  dead  body  of  our  kindly-tempered  Peesideis^t 
we  should  not  allow  oui'  evil  passions  to  become  in- 
flamed; that  to  let  loose  the  furies  of  popular  dis- 
cord would  be  an  insult  to  the  memory  of  the  good 
man  whose  life,  entirely  free  from  bigotr}^,  was  one 
beautiful  illustration  of  harmony  and  love ;  that 
while  never  remitting  our  utter  detestation  of  trea- 
son, in  whatever  guise  it  may  appear,  we  should  seek 
inspiration  not  from  the  bloody  work  of  murderous 
hands,  but  rather  from  the  sweet  smile  which  lingered 
round  the  martyr's  face  when  the  agonies  of  death 
were  gone. 

"_Far  it  is  tvritten,  ^Venrfmnce  is  mine.  I  will  o'e- 
pay,  saitli  tlie  Lord^  "  To  Him  whose  judgments  are 
unsearchable,  and  whose  ways  are  past  finding  out,  we 
commit  the  fiend  that  perpetrated  this  unforgotten, 
unforaciven  crime.  Althous-h  the  wretch  evade  the 
vigilance  of  human  eyes,  he  shall  suffer  the  miseries  of 


15 

a-  thousand  deaths  as,  pursued  by  the  outraged  Law 
and  haunted  by  remorse,  the  proscribed  felon  seeks  in 
some  oliscure  corner  of  the  earth  to  hide  his  guilty 
head.  An  exile  and  an  outcast,  a  fu^-itive  and  a  vasra- 
bond,  what  dreadful  punishment  can  he  suffer — what 
terrible  j^enance  can  he  endure — that  shall  cleanse  his 
blood-stained  soul  of  this  foul  murder  ?  * 

Turning  from  the  contem2:>lation  of  this  enormous 
crime,  let  us  devoutly  thank  God  that  the  assassin's 
main  j^urpose  was  not  accomplished ;  that  the  Gov- 
ernment remains  steady  in  its  course, — that  the  Union 
never  had  a  stronger  hold  on  the  affections  of  the  peo- 
ple than  at  the  present  moment.  And  while  daring  to 
hope  that  our  beloved  Country  is,  as  it  was  in  days 
gone  by,  an  object  of  Divine  Protection,  let  us  not 
omit  in  this  the  hour  of  humiliation  to  acknowledge 
that  no  sentiments  however  pure,  no  qualities  how- 
ever great,  no  station  however  exalted,  can  avert  from 
poor  humanity  the  shafts  of  Death. 

"  The  Glories  of  oui*  Blood  and  State 

Are  Shadows — not  Substantial  Things  ; 
There  is  no  Armor  against  Fate — 
Death  lays  his  icy  hand  on  Kings  ! 
Sceptre  and  Crown 
Must  tumble  down, 
And,  in  the  Dust,  be  equal  made 
"With  the  poor  crooked  Scythe  and  Spade. 


*  At  the  time  of  the  delivery  of  this  Address,  the  murderer  had   not 
been  arrested. 


16 

"  Some  men  with  Swords  may  reap  the  fielJ 
And  plant  fresh  Laurels  where  they  kill ; 
But  their  strong  nerves  at  last  must  yield  ; 
They  tame  but  one  another  still. 
Early  or  late 
They  stoop  to  Fate, 
And  must  give  up  their  murmuring  breath, 
When  they,  pale  captives,  creep  to  Death. 

"  The  Garlands  wither  on  your  brow : 

Then  boast  no  more  your  mighty  deeds ! 
Upon  Death's  purple  altar  now 

See  where  the  victor-victim  bleeds  ! 
Your  heads  must  come 
To  the  cold  Tomb  ; 
Only  the  actions  of  the  Just 
Smell  sweet  and  blossom  in  the  Dust !  " 

Tliis  is  not  the  appropriate  season  for  an  elaborate 
analysis  of  the  character  and  virtues  of  President 
LmcoLi^.  The  moment  is  too  solemn — our  grief  is  too 
poignant  for  the  stately  phrase  and  pompous  period  of 
labored  eulogy.  A  Nation's  Tears  are  now  tlie  silent 
Heralds  of  his  Fame. 

The  period  is  not  yet  arrived  when  mankind 
can  survey  his  eminent  jiublic  services — as  History, 
with  her  impartial  j^en,  will  delight  to  trace  their 
beauties.  When  time  shall  have  smoothed  the  asper- 
ities of  partisan  warfare,  and  mellowed  the  judgments 
of  men ;  when  all  the  motives  of  his  conduct  shall 
have  been  revealed  and  followed  to  their  results,  the 
world  will  love  him  all  the  more  that  to  the  Victor's 
Wreath  was  added  the  Martyr's  Crown. 


17 

Whatever  differences  of  opinion  tliere  may  Lave 
existed  among  liis  countrymen  regairding  the  correct- 
ness of  his  political  theories,  or  the  wisdom  of  his  ad- 
ministrative policy,  no  one  ventured  to  question  his 
singleness  of  heart  or  honesty  of  purj^ose.  That  he 
moved  cautiously  and  weighed  events  deliberately ; 
that  he  was  singularly  free  from  the  intolerance  of  big- 
otry, and  was  ever  controlled  by  a  conscientious  regard 
for  justice,  has  rarely  been  denied.  His  private  char- 
acter was  conceded  to  be  not  only  beyond  reproach, 
but  above  suspicion.  This  is  the  more  remarkable 
from  the  fact  that  he  came  into  power  on  a  whirlwind 
of  popular  excitement,  the  result  of  an  agitation  which 
for  more  than  twenty-five  years  had  threatened  to  rend 
the  Union. 

Environed  by  difficulties  at  home,  and  threading  his 
way  through  the  dangerous  entanglements  of  foreign 
diplomacy,  he  applied  to  all  his  intricate  duties  the 
rules  of  a  homely  common-sense.  Unused  to  the  logic 
of  the  schools,  he  called  to  his  aid  none  of  the  arts  of 
rhetoric ;  but  with  unaffected  reasoning,  direct  argu- 
ment, and  plain  Saxon  words,  passed  straight  to  the 
point  at  issue.  In  his  correspondence  vritli  private 
citizens,  and  mth  committees  and  military  officers — in 
his  public  addresses.  Messages  to  Congress,  and  various 
State  papers,  he  delivered  his  sentiments  ^vith  a  sim- 
plicity and  vigor  that  won  respect  where  they  failed 
to  convince.  Men  who  could  not  admit  his  doctrines 
acknowledged  his  candor. 

He  seemed  to  fully  a2:»2^reciate  the  great  responsibil- 


18 

ities  of  liis  position  Avliile  yet  standing  on  tlie  tliresLold 
of  his  Presidential  career.  There  Avas  a  solemn  grandenr 
in  the  calm  devotion  with  whicli  he  pledged  life  itself 
to  the  great  duty  of  preserving  the  Union.  Nowhere 
is  this  more  striking  than  in  tlie  brief  speech  made  by 
him  when  about  to  raise  the  National  Flag  over  Inde- 
pendence Hall  on  Washington's  birthday,  1861.  His 
language  on  that  memorable  occasion  not  only  disclos- 
ed a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  principles  of  our 
Government  which  honored  his  intelligence  and  patri- 
otism, but  in  certain  particulars,  now  startling  to  re- 
call, seems  almost  to  have  proceeded  from  a  prophetic 
mind.  To  the  complimentary  remarks  of  Mr.  Cuyler, 
he  replied  as  follows  : 

"  I  am  filled  witli  deep  emotion  at  finding  myself  standing  here, 
in  this  place  where  were  collected  tlie  wisdom,  the  patriotism, 
the  devotion  to  principle  from  which  sprang  the  institutions 
imder  which  we  live.  You  have  kindly  suggested  to  me  that  in 
my  hands  is  the  task  of  restoring  peace  to  the  present  distracted 
condition  of  the  country.  I  can  say  in  return,  sir,  that  all  tlie 
political  sentiments  I  entertain  have  been  drawn,  so  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  draw  them,  from  the  sentiments  which  originated 
and  were  given  to  the  world  from  tliis  hall.  I  have  never  had  a 
feeling  politically  that  did  not  spring  from  the  sentiments  em- 
bodied in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  I  have  often  pon- 
dered over  the  toils  that  were  endured  by  the  officers  and  soldiers 
who  achieved  that  independence.  I  have  often  inquired  of  my- 
self, what  great  principle  or  idea  it  was  that  kept  this  Confederacy 
so  long  together.  It  Avas  not  tlie  mere  matter  of  the  separation 
of  the  colonics  from  the  mother  land ;  but  that  sentiment  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  which  gave  liberty  not  alone  to  the 
peoj^le  of  this  country,  but,  I  hope,  to  the  world  for  all  future 


19 

time.  It  was  that  ■which  gave  promise  that  in  clue  time  the 
Aveierht  would  be  lifted  from  the  shoulders  of  all  men.  Tliis  is 
a  sentiment  embodied  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Now, 
my  friends,  can  this  country  be  saved  upon  this  basis  ?  If  it  can, 
I  will  consider  myself  one  of  the  happiest  men  in  the  world  if  I 
can  help  to  save  it.  If  it  cannot  be  saved  upon  this  principle  it 
will  be  truly  aAvful.  But  if  this  country  cannot  be  saved  with- 
out giving  up  that  principle,  I  was  about  to  say  I  would  rather 

BE   ASSASSINATED    ON  THIS    SPOT  THAN   SURRENDER   IT. 

"  Now,  in  view  of  the  present  aspect  of  aifairs  there  need  be  no 
bloodshed  or  war.  There  is  no  necessity  for  it.  I  am  not  in 
favor  of  such  a  course,  and  I  may  say,  in  advance,  that  there  will 
be  no  bloodshed  unless  it  be  forced  upon  the  Government,  and 
then  it  will  be  compelled  to  act  in  self-defence. 

"  My  friends,  this  is  wholly  an  unexpected  speech,  and  I  did 
not  expect  to  be  called  upon  to  say  a  word  when  I  came  here.  I 
supposed  it  was  merely  to  do  something  toward  raising  a  flag. 

"  I  HAVE  SAID  NOTHING  BUT  WHAT  I  AM  WILLING  TO  LIVE  BY 
AND,    IP   IT   BE    THE    PLEASURE    OF   AlMIGHTY   GoD,   TO   DIE    BY." 

His  most  malignant  enemy  will  look  in  vain  tlirougli 
his  writings  and  speeches  for  any  trace  of  rancor  or 
malice.  His  sentiments  ever  breathe  the  spirit  of  kind- 
ness. Always  hopeful,  his  far-seeing  mind  assured 
him  that,  sooner  or  later,  the  people  of  the  South,  con- 
vinced of  their  great  blunder,  would  seek  in  the  Union 
a  refuge  from  all  their  ills,  real  and  imaginary.  He 
therefore  carefully  avoided  the  utterance  of  any  thing 
which  might  aggravate  dissensions  or  mar  the  harmony 
of  his  fraternal  feeling's. 

The  questions  with  which  he  had  to  deal  were  ques- 
tions that  involved  the  very  existence  of  our  Country. 
A  highly  respectable  portion  of  our  Northern  fellow- 


20 

citizens  was  bound  to  the  South  by  long-clierislied 
political  affiuities,  by  warm  social  relations,  by  ties  of 
blood,  and  by  the  not  less  stubborn  bonds  of  trade. 
These  links  could  not  be  suddenly  ruptm-ed  ^\'ithout 
adding  greatly  to  the  confusion  and  discord,  already 
fearful  in  extent.  Many  intelligent  and  patriotic  men 
at  the  North  continued  to  think  that  the  South  could 
yet  be  won  back  by  kindness,  and  that  even  the  hottest 
bloods  of  Virginia  and  South-Carolina  might  be  cooled 
by  moderation  on  the  part  of  Congress  and  the  Execu- 
tive. The  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  dispelled  all  hopes 
of  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  difficulty.  AVar  began  in 
earnest. 

The  artillery  of  the  press  opened  at  the  same  time. 
Every  act  of  the  administration  Avas  sharply  criticised. 
Every  attempt  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  execu- 
tive by  the  assumption  of  dormant  or  unusual  powers, 
or  by  straining  the  Constitution,  was  met  by  exciting 
appeals,  warning  the  peoj^le  against  a  threatened  de- 
privation of  the  public  liberties.  The  limits  of  free 
speech  were,  in  certain  cases,  defined ;  the  liberty  of 
the  press  was,  in  some  portions  of  the  country,  re- 
strained ;  the  writ  of  haheas  corpus  was  susj^ended,  and 
civilians,  secretly  arrested  at  the  instance  of  the  general 
Government,  were  refused  bail  and  held  by  the  mili- 
tary arm  for  trial  by  court-martial.  The  people,  unac- 
customed to  such  scenes,  were  invoked  to  resist  these 
supposed  attacks  upon  their  ancient  rights,  which, 
wrung  from  op2")ression  by  successive  revolutions,  had 
been  handed  down  to  them  by  their  English  ancestors. 


21 

To  all  these  difficulties  was  added  tlie  intem2:)erate  zeal 
of  certain  injudicious  friends  whose  naiTOw  minds  con- 
ceived a  plan  for  governing  the  country  by  the  cramped 
machinery  of  party  politics. 

Perplexed,  embarrassed,  annoyed,  meeting  at  every 
step  im^^ediments  and  thorns,  President  Lincoln 
moved  forward  slowly,  yet  steadily,  hoping  that  his 
countrymen,  appreciating  the  novelty  of  his  situation, 
would  lend  him  their  sympathies,  and  patiently  await 
the  result  of  a  line  of  conduct  which  he  felt  was  fully 
vindicated  by  the  exigencies  of  the  times  and  the 
pm'ity  of  liis  intentions. 

When  for  a  brief  season  the  tide  of  war  seemed  roll- 
ing back  against  us,  and  timid  friends  fell  off,  and 
secret  foes  took  heart,  he  never  faltered  in  his  hia^h 
pm'pose.  He  adhered  with  Eoman  firmness  to  the 
maxim,  '■'■Never  despair  of  tlie  CommonweaWir  And 
^vhen  many  looked  with  fear  on  a  still  divided  Xorth, 
excited  by  angry  discussions  and  embittered  by  ex- 
travagant recriminations — when  he  began  to  be  openly 
denounced  as  a  tp'ant  and  usurper,  one  thing  alone  re- 
mained to  us  as  our  bulwark  ao-ainst  the  assaults  of 
anarchy :  that  was  the  popular  belief  in  his  integrity. 
The  countiy  was  flooded  with  newspapers,  magazines, 
and  pamphlets,  containing  ably  written  articles  de- 
siofued  to  demonstrate  that  he  had  transcended  the 
limits  of  the  Constitution;  but  the  people  continued 
to  look  upon  him  as  an  Honest  Man.  They  refused  to 
withcb'aw  the   confidence   they  had   reposed   in   him. 


22 

Tliey  could  not  be  made  to  believe  that  he  was  ca- 
pable of  l)i'ea]ving  his  Oath. 

Between  him  and  his  predecessors  no  jiarallel  can  be 
drawn,  for  no  other  President  ever  held  the  reins  of 
power  through  four  years  of  virulent  rebellion.  It  is 
therefore  impossible  to  say  how  much  better  or  how 
much  worse  others  would  have  done.  We  saw,  how- 
ever, that  his  grasp  of  statesmanshijD  was  rapidly  be- 
coming appreciated,  and  that  his  early  opponents  were 
inclined  to  receive  with  favor  the  accumulatinof  evi- 
deuces  of  his  intellectual  capacity. 

Without  any  of  those  brilliant  mental  qualities 
which  we  have  occasionally  seen  flit  across  the  politi- 
cal sky,  dazzling  but  not  illuminating,  his  intellectual 
light  shone  clear,  calm,  and  steady.  That  he  was  a 
man  of  quick  comprehension,  vivid  perceptions,  excel- 
lent judgment,  and  extraordinary  mental  vigor  was 
long  since  imiversally  conceded.  Had  he  lived  to 
embark  on  his  career  as  a  statesman  freed  from  the 
burthens  of  war,  he  would  have  won  the  still  further 
concession  that  his  mind  was  distinguished  by  many  of 
the  highest  characteristics  of  greatness. 

It  is  impossible  for  us  to  look  back  upon  the  history 
of  the  past  four  years  and  fail  to  observe  the  wonder- 
ful extent  to  which  he  moulded  public  sentiment.  If 
to  shape  the  thoughts  of  a  free  people,  upon  questions 
of  vital  importance,  in  a  country  of  general  intelli- 
gence,— if  to  lead  that  people  successfully  through  a 
wilderness  of  dissensions — be  a  mark  of  greatness, 
then  Abeaham  Li^^^coLiS^  was  a  Great  Man. 


>3 


'No  man  of  ordiuary  mind  could  have  accomplished 
this. 

No  man  of  ordinary  mental  powers  or  moral  quali- 
ties could  have  reached  the  lofty  position  occupied 
by  him ;  nor  could  a  man  of  mean  capacity  or  base 
motives,  if  thrown  into  the  presidential  chair  by  some 
wave  of  popular  caj^rice,  have  maintained  himself  in 
the  place.  An  Imbecile  or  a  Demagogue  would  have 
gained  no  hold  on  the  Country.  The  people  have  not 
been  in  the  humor  to  tolerate  incapacity  or  dishonesty. 

There  are  many  who  believe  that  Peesidext  Ln^coLN 
succeeded  as  but  few  men  would  have  succeeded  ;  that 
his  qualities  wei*e  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  times ;  that 
a  man  with  more  inflexibility  of  will,  or  less  gentleness 
of  heart,  would  have  failed  to  reconcile  any  portion 
of  the  Union  with  the  other,  and  that  what  at  first 
seemed  his  weakness  proved,  in  time,  our  strength. 

The  eulogy  is  well  deserved.  His  main  purpose  was 
to  preserve  the  Union.  To  this  great  object  he  bent 
all  the  energies  of  his  soul. 

We  all  know  that  he  did  not  originally  seek  the 
office  of  President.  We  also  know  that  once  in  the 
office,  it  immediately  became  his  ambition  to  be  what 
the  people  designed  him  for  —  the  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  Nor  was  this  a  mere  per- 
sonal ambition.  Every  State  had  a  place  in  his  affec- 
tions. He  longed  to  see  each  State  return  home.  His 
heart  throbbed  alone  for  the  Union.  In  seeking  to 
gratify  this  prevailing  desire,  he  may  at  times  have 
•appeared  unnecessarily  rigid,  and  at  other  times  unne- 


24 

cessarily  lax  ;  but  we  sliould  not  forget  that  the  details 
of  history  are  rarely  understood  aright  during  the  life- 
time of  the  principal  actors.  There  doubtless  are  many 
circumstances  in  his  presidential  career  which  will  not 
be  properly  understood  until  some  future  historian, 
groping  his  way  through  the  puljlic  archives,  shall  dis- 
close private  letters  and  secret  dispatches  now  wisely 
concealed.  The  public  mind,  then  no  longer  warped 
by  passion,  nor  clouded  by  prejudice,  nor  biased  by 
faction,  wall  calmlv  review  his  wdiole  conduct,  and  ac- 
cord  the  full  praise  due  to  his  high  character  as  a 
Statesman,  Sage,  and  Patriot. 

It  is  sad  to  reflect  that  the  murderer's  hand  reached 
him  just  as  he  w^as  turning  from  the  rough  fields 
of  discord  to  tread  the  primrose  paths  of  peace.  To 
him  the  proud  satisfaction  was  not  reserved  to  wit- 
ness the  full  fruition  of  his  w^eary  laboi-s.  lie  w^as 
permitted  to  behold  the  da%vn  of  victory,  but  not 
the  meridian  blaze  of  triumph.  Yet  he  would  have 
enjoyed  that  triumph  not  so  much  for  its  glory  as  for 
the  grand  practical  results,  and  the  blessings  of  frater- 
nal love  and  national  unity  which  he  fondly  hoped 
would  follow  in  its  train.  He  would  have  indulged  in 
no  vain  exultations  over  a  fallen  foe,  but  would  have 
kindly  striven  to  deprive  conquest  of  its  sting.  To  the 
congratulations  of  the  Union  Clubs  of  Washington,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  reelection,  he  replied  : 

"  Now  tliat  the  election  is  over,  may  not  all,  having  a  common 
interest,  reunite  in  a  common  eflfort  to  serve  our  common  coun- 
try ?     For  my  own  part  I  have  striven,  and  shall  strive,  to  avoid 


25 

placing  any  obstacle  in  the  way.  So  long  as  I  have  been  here,  I 
liave  not  willingly  planted  a  thorn  in  any  man's  bosom.  While  I 
am  duly  sensible  to  the  high  compliment  of  a  reelection,  and  duly 
grateful,  as  I  trust,  for  having  directed  my  countrymen  to  a  right 
conclusion,  as  I  think,  for  their  good,  it  adds  nothing  to  my  satis- 
fliction  that  any  other  man  may  be  disappointed  by  the  result." 

In  reply  to  tlie  address  of  the  Maryland  Union  State 
Central  Committee,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  Novem- 
ber last,  he  simply  said  : 

"  I  repeat  what  I  have  said  before,  that  I  indulge  iu  no  feeling 
of  triumph  over  any  one  who  has  thought  or  acted  differently 
from  myself.     I  have  no  such  feeling  toward  any  living  man." 

In  the  same  noble,  magnanimous  spirit  he  penned 
the  concludino:  lines  of  his  last  Inaii2:ural,  delivered  less 
than  two  months  a^ro  : 


o 


"With  malice  toward  xone,  —  with  charity  for  all, — 

with  firmxess  ix  the  right as  god  gives  us  to  see  the 

right let  us  strive  ox  to  fixisii  the  work  we  are  ix, — 

to  bixd  up  the  xatiox's  wouxds,  —  to  care  for  11131  who 
shall  have  borxe  the  battle,  axd  for  his  widow  axd  or- 
phaxs, — to  do  all  which  3ray  achieve  axd  cherish  a  just 
and    lastixg    peace   amoxg    oursela'es   axd   with    atj>    xa- 

TIOXS." 

"VVe  little  thought,  when  first  those  simple  words 
appeared,  how  soon  they  would  become  his  epitaph  ! 

It  was  in  the  same  l^enevolent  si^irit  that  he  received 
the  overtures  of  Louisiana  as,  with  a  contrite  heart,  she 
approached  her  old  home,  suing  for  readmission  to  the 
Family  of  States.  Even  South-Carolina  might  have 
trusted   to   his   generosity,  had    she,  pointing   to  her 


26 

desolated  fields  and  ruined  homes,  but  acknowledged 
with  sorrow  her  great  offence.  And  we  can  imagine 
with  ^vliat  tender  compassion  he  would  have  welcomed 
back  to  the  Union  Virginia — that  venerable  mother  of 
American  commonwealths — as,  movinc;  in  the  errand 
procession  of  returning  States,  she  neared  the  family 
circle,  still  pressing  to  her  bosom  the  form  of  Wash- 
in  o-ton. 

Alas  for  him,  cut  off  in  his  jorime  !  Alas  for  us,  so 
suddenly  bereaved !  Alas  for  his  sorrowing  country, 
he  is  gone ! 

He  is  ours  no  longer,  except  in  his  good  deeds  and 
the  force  of  his  virtuous  example. 

We  may  not  penetrate  the  veil  which  hides  the 
future  from  our  sight.  We  may  long  look  in  vain  for 
the  special  designs  of  Providence  in  permitting  him  at 
this  time  to  be  thus  torn  awav.  Yet  even  now  we 
see  that  our  Great  Affliction  is  not  without  its  blessed 
lesson. 

We  see  a  truce  to  faction.  We  see  a  unanimity  of 
sentiment  that  astonishes  and  delio-hts  all  sfood  men. 

Millions,  lately  in  some  degree  opposed,  are  now 
united  in  feeling,  and  vie  with  each  other,  not  only  in 
honoring  his  memory,  but  in  a  ^^atriotic  determination 
to  lay  aside  all  minor  ol)jects  and  employ  the  energies 
of  the  whole  people  in  unremitting  efforts  to  restore 
harmonious  relations  to  all  parts  of  the  Republic.  The 
spectacle  thus  presented  is  full  of  hope  for  the  nation. 
It  will  strike  the  statesmen  of  the  old  world  with 
amazement,  and  dissipate  many  doubts  concerning  the 


27 

stability  of  our  institutions,  when  tliey  learn  tluit  the 
shock  utterly  failed  to  weaken  our  political  system. 
To  them  the  novel  and  instructive  scene  will  be  pre- 
sented of  a  great  Nation  losing  its  Chief  Magistrate  by 
violence,  yet  continuing  undisturbed  on  its  majestic 
course. 

Nor  is  this  the  only  lesson  which  the  Gi'eat  Calamity 

presents. 

With  filial  love  the  people  gently  place  upon  his 
earthly  part  their  choicest  flowers,  and  tenderly  bear  it 
onward  to  the  tomb,  through  one  long  triumphal  arch, 
heavy  with  the  mournful  emblems  of  a  Nation's  grief. 
Reverently  drawing  near,  they  gaze  upon  his  lifeless 
form  and  silently  renew  their  vows  of  allegiance  to 
their  country.  They  look  upon  his  gentle  fiice,  and  all 
angry  passions  are  subdued.  Vindictiveness  and  Ha- 
tred and  Malice  melt  away  when  they  think  of  his 
great  heart,  in  Avhicli  all  men  still  found  some  drop  ot 
sympathy,  and  from  which  sprang  the  loving  senti- 
ment— '^Malice  toward  none — charity  for  alV 

Like  him,  let  us  discourage  the  low  contentions  and 
petty  intrigues  of  partisan  warfare.  Let  us  study  the 
principles  upon  which  our  Republic  is  based,  in  a  s^^irit 
of  candor,  and  discuss  them  with  feelings  of  kind- 
ness. Let  us  remember  the  great  truths  which  History 
teaches  us,  that  fire  and  sword  may  sul)due  rebellions 
by  destroying  the  elements  of  their  strength,  but  will 
not  cure  political  heresies ;  that  in  politics  as  in  reli- 
gion, heretics  may  be  persuaded  l)y  reason,  but  cannot 
be  con\'inced  by  persecution ;  that  violence  transforms 


28 

igiioriuice  into  fanaticism,  and  stul>l)ornness  into  des- 
peration, and  that  tlie  Intelligence  and  Virtue  of  tlie 
people  are  the  pillars  on  which  our  Political  Fabric 
must  ever  rely  for  support. 

Governed  by  these  truths,  and  guided  by  the  Gold- 
en Rule,  it  was  President  Lincoln's  earnest  endeavor 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  liis  great  office  by  learning 
hoAV  to  perform  them,  by  calling  to  his  aid  the  expe- 
rience of  the  wise  and  the  good,  by  bringing  to  his 
task  the  noblest  qualities  of  a  mind  and  the  cardinal 
virtues  of  a  heart  that  expanded  with  the  growing 
emergencies  of  the  times,  and  by  tempering  all  his 
thouglits  and  actions  with  Justice,  Mercy,  Charity,  and 
Good  Will. 

In  adversity  he  was  firm,  in  j^ros^^erity  modest,  in 
victory  magnanimous.  His  faith  was  ardent,  his  zeal 
enlightened,  his  integrity  undeviating,  his  morality 
pure,  his  courage  heroic.  Patriotism  led  all  his 
afteetions. 

We  can  present  no  more  beautiful  tribute  to  his 
memory,  we  can  place  no  more  fragrant  garland  on  his 
tomb,  than  the  solemn  promise  to  emulate  his  bright 
example. 


ft 


\ 


4ttr  -J 


x-^. 


#-  ^-^i 


